Structural Fire Engineering Lead

The Abbey; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Flexible working patterns

Job summary

Buro Happold seeks a Structural Fire Engineer Leader in the UK, based in Manchester or other major locations. You will lead complex fire engineering projects, drive market growth, and guide a team of engineers to deliver safe, innovative building solutions.

Qualified candidates will have a master's degree, chartered status or near, substantial leadership experience, and strong consultancy skills. The role supports hybrid working and a diverse, inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Structural Engineering or Structural Fire Engineering.
• Chartered engineer or close to it.
• Experience leading structural fire engineering teams in an engineering consultancy.
• Experience managing structural fire engineering projects.
• Experience designing and assessing structures at ambient and elevated temperatures.
• Experience in fire/heat transfer assessments and structural modelling.
• Experience in using SAFIR, VULCAN or similar FEM packages.
• Experience writing and reviewing performance-based engineering reports.
• Excellent consultancy and communication skills.
• Confident and proactive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead market awareness, pipeline, and business development for Structural Fire Engineering.
• Lead delivery of complex engagements, ensure client satisfaction and relationships.
• Mentor and develop team members, foster inclusive work environment.
• Contribute to UK Fire Engineering senior leadership team.
• Own technical competence and capability development for the team.
• Collaborate with structural engineers on complex buildings for life safety and protection.
• Inform design aspirations and architectural form.
• Represent Buro Happold at design team meetings.

Skills

Chartered engineer

Team leadership

FEM software

Structural fire engineering

Report writing

Consultancy skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Master's degree in Structural Engineering or Structural Fire Engineering

Tools

SAFIR

VULCAN

FEM modelling

Job description

Want to work with the most sought-after minds and most-talked about projects? Your skills and team leadership experience in Structural Fire Engineering might just make you our new Structural Fire Engineer Leader.

Key Duties

• Drive market awareness, sales pipeline, and business development activities for Structural Fire Engineering propositions and capabilities.
• Take a lead role in project delivery for our most complex engagements, ensuring successful outcomes, client satisfaction and an ongoing client relationship.
• Inspire, motivate, and support the professional development and well‑being of team members by prioritising their growth and fostering an inclusive work environment.
• As a key member of the UK Fire Engineering senior leadership team, you will contribute to the overall success of the team, across strategy, service, propositions, and people.
• Own the "Technical" competence and capability development for the team embedding technical skills within the Structural Fire Engineering.
• Working with structural engineers on exciting and complex buildings to ensure life safety and optimise protection.
• Informing and supporting design aspirations, functionality and architectural form.
• Representing Buro Happold at design team meetings, both internally and externally.

Your Skills and Experience

• Masters degree or higher in Structural Engineering or Structural Fire Engineering.
• Being a chartered engineer or being close to achieving it.
• Experience in leading structural fire engineering teams in an engineering consultancy environment.
• Experience in managing structural fire engineering projects.
• Experience in designing and assessing current and historic structures at ambient temperatures and in fire.
• Experience in undertaking and supervising fire and heat transfer assessments followed by structural modelling at elevated temperatures.
• Experience in using and checking of structural fire engineering FEM packages like SAFIR, VULCAN or similar.
• Experience in, writing and reviewing performance‑based engineering reports.
• Excellent consultancy skills, good communication abilities and the experience to deal with complex situations, negotiation and understanding the differing needs of our clients and within stakeholder groups.
• Confident, proactive character, able to take the lead in challenging situations and guide less experienced engineers.

Exposure to the following areas is advantageous

• Sports Stadia and Arenas
• Large commercial developments
• International markets

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other's differences is key, we want employees to feel they don't have to mask elements of their identity to thrive. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

#LI-JN1 #LI-Hybrid

Salary Competitive Frequency Annual

Job Reference burohappold/TP/903/229

Contract Type Permanent

Job Category Engineering and Design

Discipline Fire Engineering

Location Bath; London; Leeds; Manchester; Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Closing Date 29 August, 2026